Observational studyNeurology2025
Skin-to-Skin Holding in Relation to White Matter Microstructure in Infants Born Preterm.
Observational study in Neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- From oxidative stress to epigenetic regulation: Molecular mechanisms of preterm brain injury and neuroprotective strategies (Review).Molecular medicine reports · 2026Review
- Neonatal brain-age models in full- and preterm infants.Developmental cognitive neuroscience · 2026Article
- Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Transitional Home Care Program for Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants: A Structured Program Evaluation.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Neurodevelopmental Trajectories in Preterm Neonates: Integrating Neuroimaging Modalities with Clinical Neurological Outcomes.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesPreterm birth is associated with altered white matter development and long-term neurodevelopmental impairments. Skin-to-skin care has known benefits for physiologic regulation and bonding in preterm infants, but impacts on early brain structure remain unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the association between in-hospital skin-to-skin care and white matter microstructure in very preterm infants, focusing on frontolimbic tracts involved in stress regulation and socioemotional development.
methodsThe design was a single-center retrospective observational analysis of clinical data from the electronic medical records and diffusion MRI scans. Participants were infants born at <32 weeks gestational age (GA) who received a routine predischarge MRI. Skin-to-skin care was quantified as duration per instance and daily exposure rate (in minutes) before the MRI was obtained. Diffusion MRI assessed mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cingulum, anterior thalamic radiations (ATRs), and uncinate fasciculus. Hierarchical regression models evaluated associations between skin-to-skin care and white matter metrics, adjusting for GA, medical acuity, postmenstrual age at scan, and MRI coil type.
resultsA total of 88 preterm infants (mean GA 29 weeks; 49% female) were included. Skin-to-skin care duration per instance was positively associated with MD in the cingulum ( DISCUSSION: Skin-to-skin care was associated with neonatal white matter microstructure in specific frontolimbic tracts. Limitations include the retrospective design and single-center setting. Future studies should consider how early caregiving experiences, such as skin-to-skin care, may influence brain development in preterm infants.
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